Clutch mechanism.



L. H. HALL. CLUTCH MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED Mmes, 1910.

manned Dec. 6,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. H. HALL. CLUTCH MEGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAH. Z6, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A UNI, I j TEDs/Tafrns Lonrs Hlnrm, on NEW Yonx, N. it..4

armeei.

, ed a certain new and useful Improvement in Specication of VLetters fatent.

CLUTCH MECHANISM.

- Application ledJanuary 26, 19.10. `S erial No. 540,116.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS I-I. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county yand State of New York, have invent- Clutch Mechanism, of -whiclithefollowing x is a specification.

The invention relates to lmechanism of the clutch character for transmitting motion from a driving-shaft to a driven-shaft, and t-he object of the invention is to provide means whereby the cou ling of the shafts,

and the desired speed-c anges and reverse,

maybe effected quickly and reliably and without shock to the mechanism, and whereby the danger of fracture or derangement due to sudden coupling and 'changes may be greatly lessened or entirelyeliminated. A Y

The means employed provides for prelimi-y nary frictional engagement in opposition to strong yielding resistance, followedby positive engagement while still -friction'ally engaged, and a further object of the-invention vis to provide'for discontinuing such strong resistancerand frictional engagement as soon as positive engagement has been established,

. thus permitting such positive engagement to be completed unopposed and avoiding the V -necessityof strong-pressuretomaintain the positive engagement, and'also relieving the shafts from excessive end-thrust..-luey to suoli i pressure.

features ofl construction, 4and arrangements of parts, by which the above objects are atently conditioned. Fig. 4 is a vertical section and elevation. the plane of section being indicated by thefline 'lle-4in Fig. 3. Fig. 5.

isfa face view of a clutch wheel forming part of the positive engaging `means. Fig.6 is

Fig. 3 is a horizontal secan elevation of the opposite face.v Fig. '7

is a'corresponding side or edge view.-

Similar letters of reference parts in all Athe figures.

In the operations'of lcoupling for directdrive or high'speed, and in changing to intermediate, low-speed, and to reverse, the

indicate like Patented Dec. 6, 191.0.Y

engagement. is first made frictionally and.

while the parts are thuszconnected and rotating together they are forced into positive engagement and released from frictional contact; the principle involved performing the several change` operations is the same in each case but'variationsare shown inthedetails of thelcluth mechanism fas found necessary or desirable by reason ofthe positions of the shafts relatively lto each other. A is the motor-shaft driven by any suit- -able motor, not shown, and B\ is the reardrive shaft in line axially therewith? and when coupled, thereto ,forms in eect a continuation thereof. i

C is a. countershaft parallel with the motor and drive shafts and geared positively to the motor-shaft by a pinion A2l on the latter in mesh with the gear-wheel C1 on the former, so thatthe countershaft revolves with the motor-shaft butin the opposite direction andat a'lowerspeed. Y

On 4the rear end of the drive-shaft is a yoke B1 forming part of a 'universaljoint' throughy which the motionofthe drive-shaft is transmitted as usual to the differential orV A n other gear 'lem loyed in driving the car, or The invention 'consists in certain novel' .performing .ot ervv work as'will be uiide stood.- The several shafts are supported li171 suitable bearings, omitted for clearness, butV which may be understood tobe suitably lol catedand'of any approved type.`

Referring-nowto the mechanism for iii-4 ducing high speed or direct-drive, shown at the left in Figs. '1 and 2 and on la larger scale in Fi 3, A2 is afsleeveformin the hub .of the pinion A1, keyed to the sha .A Aandextending beyond the latter to inclose loosely the free end of the drive-shaft B.

ico

Onthe rear end of the sleeve isa collar I l D splined to slide axially thereon Vand having a radial ange or head Dl'in which are.

mounted four or other -iiumber of .radially ios notches in the surface of the sleeve A2 an hold the collar D against forward movement, toward thep'inion, until released. The

Vvlatches ard-held engagement bysprings A w so D1 and each has a beveled arm .D4 by which it can'bc raised in opposition to the force of its spring and thus released.

` E is a friction-wheel having a cylindrical f overhung flange E1 -forming its periphery, and splined upon the collar D to move axially thereof. It is forced rearwardly by the expansive action of abutting at one end against the rear face of the head D1' and at the other against the front face of the friction-wheel E in a Seat formed by a beveled annular nose E2, and is held normally at the rearwardextent of lits Y movement by engagement with an annular 15 stop 'D5 at the rear end of the collar D.

n Keyed upon'the reduced rear-end ofthe sleeve A2 is a clutch-wheel Gr, havingteeth similar to those of anordinary gear- Wheel and lyingnormally hanging flange E1 which projects somewhat beyond its rear face, as shown in Figs. 2

On the drive-shaft B is splined a sliding sleeve H having al1-annular groove h for the reception ofthe forked endof a shiftinglever, not shown, and a peripheral overhung rim H1 provided on its interior face `with a series of teeth H2 similar to those of an internal gear-wheel and constructed' to engage in the spaces between the teeth of the clutchwheel Gr when presented thereto.`l

The face of the riin H1 adjacent to the rear [face of theflange E1 is provided with a frictional wearingsurface H3, and on the p pfiphery `of the rim H1 is a series of teeth which will appear The mechanism above described is for coupling the motor-shaft A directly vto the 40 drive-shaft LB for direct-drive, and its operation is as follows z-Assuming -the shaft A with its sleeve A2 and connections to be re- I v volving and the drive-shaftx stationary, thel sleeve H is forced forward to bring its rerear face 'of the friction-Bange E1 and the pressure increased to overcome the initial resistance of the, strong spring F causing the flan e E1 and its wheel E tomove forward on t e collar D; by increasingthepressure 4`suiiicient friction is developed to engage the rim H1 and'flange E1 and compel these parts and their shafts to revolve together; `a further movement still further compresses the l 55 spring F and engages the ends of the 'teeth 'H2 withv those of the clutch-WheelG and positive engagement isV initiated, a still further movement increases such engagement andcauses the annular nose E2 to 'contact with the arms D1 on'the latches D2 and lift them out of 'engagement with the sleeve A1. *Whenthus released, the strong s ring F immediately expandsby forcing forwardly until the sto Don brings up against the w a strong spiral spring F inclosed within the overorming a gear-wheel, the'function of later in this description.v

iii-forced friction-face H8 in contact with the t e head D1Y the collar lD` eel E and the spring:

F again assumes' its normal position and tension, and the positive engagement is coinpleted with no resistance otherthan the slidin friction of the teeth, and the resistance oi'lgered by a slight spiral 'spring I interposed betweenthe pinion A1 and front face of the head D1, the function of which is to move the collar D rearwardly to yreengage the latches D? when the sleeve H is again moved rearwardly to uncouple the shafts A and B.

'- On the Withdrawal of the 'latches and expansion ofthe spring F -the strong frictional contact between the flange E1 and rim H1 ceases and the shaft B continues to revolve in positive engagement with the shaft A without requiring any pressure to be exerted through the sleeve H to maintain such engagement, beyond that necessary to overcome the force of the light spring I, and the end thrust on the shafts due to excessive pressure is also avoided. y

Intermediate speed is induced through the -countershaft C driven positively by the gearwheel C1 from the pinion A1. On the countershaft near, -but in rear of, the rim H1 is a clutch mechanism similar to that 4abovey described and comprising a sleeve A3 keyed to the counter-shaft and carrying a toothed clutch-wheel G1 which in this instance serves also as a gear-wheel. It is inclosed by a friction-wheel E3 having an overhung ange E4 arranged to lap iipon'the rear face of the rim H1 when the sleeve H is thrown rearwardly from its central position, and create- -the necessary frictional engagement.

The friction-wheel E3 is arranged to slide axially upon the Acollar D which is provided with latches D" and strong and weak springs F1 and I1 as before described; in operation the overlapping facesof the rims E1 and H1 induce revolution by friction land the further movement of the sleeve H causes the teeth of mentionedl series of teeth H1 on the periphery of the Harige .H1, and the release of the latches D7 relieves .the frictional contact when' positive mesh is attained. Thus connected the drive-shaft B- is revolved in' thesame direction as before'but at a lower rate of speed determined by the pinion A1, gear-wheel C1, clutch-wheel G1 and-series4 of. teethv H1, as will be understood, Low-speed is induced from-the'pinion C2 on the sleeve A3 on the countershaft through the gear-wheel B2; The latter is keyed to a sleeve A4 loosely inclosing a portion of the drive-shaft B between the Iforward'end of an enlarged ortion BS of the shaftand a collar B1fixe upon th'e'shaft.

The sleeve A* carries aclutch-wheel G2,

vthe clutch-wheel 'G1 to mesh with the before iio iis

collar D8 latches D9 and springs F2 and'lz l similar to the like parts as first described,

'tional contact wi larged portion B of the sh'aft and having .an annular groove 1' receiving theforkof a second shifting-lever, not shown. By mov-l fing thisslidin #sleeve forwardly the conical recessin the an e J2 isbrought int-o fric--f the conical flange E6 and the latter forced forward against 4the resistance citer-ed bythe spring F2 "until the internalteeth J3 engage the teeth 'of the clutch-wheel G2 'and the spring F2 is .re-

leased. Thus conditioned the drive-shaftis 'revolved in the same direction as before but at lthe still lower rate determined by the 'countershaft, held between .a 'collar C4 and 'Y pinion C5 iixed onsuch shaft, and having an overhung liange C carrying exterior gear teeth' C7 and internal gear teeth C8; the latter. are in mesh with one or more pinions C9 revolubly mounted on pins C set in the C5 serve Vin the well-known manner to rotate stationary disk. C' and meshing with the center pinion C5.

Vand C5 and internal gear the disk C3 in the direction op osite to the revolution -of the countershaft t By moving' .the sliding-sleeve J rear- .wardly the conical friction-surface J2 on the' rear end of the sleeve is brought into frictlonal contact with the correspondingly shaped cone E8l forming the rim of thefrict tion-wheel E7 which is mounted as before on the collar D1Y0 carrying latches D11 and springs F8 and I5, the wholel mounted on a loose sleeve A5 held between the'rear end 'of -t-he enlargement B-"and the collar B5.

A-toothed clutch-wheel Grs keyed to the sleeve -A5 receives the internal teethJ* ofthe Vslidlng-sleeve J, and` a Vgear-'wheel B" keyed upon the sleeve is in mesh with 4.the teeth C7 on the exterior of the flange C, thus condi-v u tioned motion is communicated from the fgm'otor-shaft throughV the pinion A? and gear- A`VwheelgG1 .to thefcounte'rshaft and from thev z Y latter, reversed by the pinions 4C C', through the flange Cand gear-iwheel'Bv tothe {drive-- *tions of the several y y I Bythe mechanism shown, the initial fricshaft B at'a ratedetermined. by' the proportional contact is' light 'and gradually increases until motion is established between orl'by the parts, which are ftli'en positivelyV engaged .andafter 'such engagement 'is fully established,theffrictional `contactis relieved,

made easily 'an quickly t0 avoid undue shock.`

but solsmoothly as A established.

the required changesgto be` In )order to facilitate the positive engagement, the teeth ofthe several clutch-wheels and those, of their engaging wheels are pointed on the ends presented toward each other as at G, See Fig. 7, to reduce the area of the -opposedplane faces and enableA the .teeth of each wheel to glide easily into the spaces between the teeth ofthe other.

- V'As a further means of increasing such ease of engagement the clutch-wheels are preferably constructed as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7 in which Lisa boss or hub arranged 'to be keyed upon the sleeve on which it is mounted, having a radial iian e L1 partiallycutv awayv to' form opposite y located segmental wings L2 L2'matching to the recessed face'of the wheel G loosely mounted on the hub L and confined between the flange L1 and collar L3 thereon. The wheel has segmental lugs G5 G5 received in the spaces between the wings, permitting a degree of -lost motion but compelling the rotation of the Wheel by centact with such wings.

. In the Acollar L3 on the face adjacent to the wheel G is a groove Z extending circumvferentially and receiving two curved helical springs L4 separated by the head G6 of a pin G7 set in the wheel and extending into the groove between them. Thus arranged the wheel is held yieldingly upon the hub with the lugs Gr5 G vapproximately in the central position relativelyto the wings L2 L2, and

may move slightly as required to permit the 5 teeth to engage readily, and whenthus engaged be rotated positively b y the contact of the wings with the lugs.

Modications may be made in the forms and proportions within wide limits Without departing from the invention, and parts may ybe used without the whole. Other means for reversingthe motion of the disk G5 relatively to the'countershaft may be employed.'

Although the invention is described asapplied to amotor vehicle, it will be understood that it will serve for any purposes and in any situations to which it may be adapted.

. I claim l 1. In a device of the character set forth, a revolving driving-member and a revoluble driven-member, frictional means mounted on one of said members and movable into fric-y tional fcontact with the other, positive engaging means carried by sald members and arranged to be engagedby a contlnuatlon of such movement of said frictional means, means formaintaining the force' of said frictional contact untilsaid positive engagement is effected and means actuated by such 'movement for releasing said frictional engagement after ASaid positive engagement is A 2.111 a idevice of the'character set forth, a

one Of'saidv/membersand movable into frics tional engagement by releasing' said yielding tion of said releasing means carried by such j engaged by such said latch-releasing -l 'a driving-shaft and 3 A V Amovable arially thereon,

v said wheel thereon,

means after said positive 'engagement is established. v l

3. In a device of the character set forth, a driving-shaft and adriven-shaft, a friction-wheel 'carried by each of said shafts, means for moving one of said-wheels axially into contact with the other to induce rotadriven-shaft, toothed means carried by each of said shafts and constructed to engage initially by the movement of said friction-wheels, a spring opposing such movement, and means actuated by such movement forreleasing said spring from tension and discontinulng such frictional contact. when engagement of said toothed means is established.

4. In a device :of the character set-forth, adriven-shaft, a friceach of said shafts and an axially movable abutment carried on one of said shafts, a latch in. saidlabutment holding-the latter against axial movement, ajspringp; between said abutment and one of sa1d friction-wheels, latchwheel, means for moving said wheels into frictional engagement in opposition to the force of said spring, positive engaging meanscarrled by sa1d shafts and arranged to be initially movement .of said lwheels,

tion-wheel carried by matically to actuate said latch and release the` tension of said spring, whereby said frictional engagement 1s discontinued when such positive engagement is established.

` 5.' A driving-shaft, a friction-wheel movable axially thereon, aspring opposing such movement an abutment for sai spring, a latch holdlng said abutment, latch-releasing means" carried by said-wheel and actuated by. the movement of the latter incompressing said spring, a driven-shaft, a frictionwheel movable axially thereon and adapted to be moved into frictional contact withlthe friction-wheel on sa1d driving-shaft .in op-l position to the force of sa1d spring.I

6.l A driving-shaft, a collar movable axially thereon, a head on said collar, a friction-wheel movable axially-on said collar, a spring between said head and Wheel, a stop on said collar for limiting the movement of a latchr in said head holding said collar against axialmovement,

means rcarried by said wheel for releasing -movement n ing means constructed autov said latch, a driven-shaft, a friction-wheel thereon movable axially and adaptedto be moved into frictional contact with the friction-wheel on said `driving-shaft in opposition to the force of said sprin and positive engaging means on said shats adapted to.

be initially'engaged by the axial movement of said wheels.

7. A driving-shaft, a collar movable axia fric-` ally thereon, a head on 'said collar, tion-wheelv movable axially on said collar, an overhung ange on said wheel, a toothed wheel revoluble with said shaft and inclosed by said iange, a spring between said head and friction-wheel, a stop or. said collar for engaging said friction wheel' and limiting its from said head, a latchin said head holding said collar against axial movement, a nose on said friction-wheel for releasing said latch, a driven-shaft, a. friction- Wheel. movable axially thereon and havinga friction-rim adapted to engage said frictioniiange, and 'teeth on said friction-rim larranged to engage .the teeth on said toothed wheel; Y

8. A driving-shaft, a collar movable axially thereon, a head on said collar, a friction-wheel movable axially on said collar, an overhung flange on said wheel, a toothed Wheel revoluble with said shaft and inclosed by said flange, a spring betweensaid head and friction-wheel, a stop on said collar for engaging said 4friction-wheel andlimitits movement from said'head, a latch in said head holding said collar against axial movement, a nose'on said friction- Wheel for releasing said latch shaft, thereon and having a friction-rim adapted to enga-ge said friction-flange, 'teeth on said friction-rim adapted to engage the teethV on A said .toothed wheel, and a sprin acting a drivena frlction-wheel movable axially.

upon said head in 'opposition to t e first-fl mentioned spring. v

9; A driving-shaft, a collar movable axially thereon, a head on sai collar, 4an overhungflange on said wheel, a peripherally toothed wheel revoluble with said shaft and inclosed by said flange, .said head and friction-wheel, a'spring ac ton the opposite face of. said head 1n ing up opposition to said first-mentioned spring, a -stop l011 said collar for. engaging sa1d friction-wheel and limiting its movement from said head, a latch in said head holding said collar against a .spring between Y axial movement, a nose on said friction-wheel for `releasing said latch, a driven-shaft, a friction-wheel thereon and movable .axially thereof and having .v A.

an overhung 'friction-run adapted to engage said' friction-flange, and teeth onthe'interor of said friction-rim arrangedto en age the peripheral `teeth on said toothed w eel.

10.. In a device ofthe character set forth, a driving-shaft. and a driven-shaft, a friction-wheel carried by each of said shafts, a head on said rim, and teeth carried by means for moving one of said wheels axially the other of said shafts and adapted to eninto frietional engagement with the other to induce rotation of said driven-shaft, a spring opposing suh movement, and positive engaging means carried by said shaft-s and comprising a hub on one shaft, a toothed rim loosely mounted to rotate on said hb, stops on said hub, a lug on said rim between said stops, springs abutting at one end against said hub and at the other against gage said toothed rim.

In testimony that I claim the invention l5 above set forth I affix my signature, in pres.; ence of two witnesses.

LOUIS H. HALL.`

Witnesses:

CHARLES R. SEARLE WALLY E. YOUNG. 

